Cardiff Sixth Form College, Cambridge

School and boarding material change inspection report

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Cardiff Sixth Form College, Cambridge 89 Regent Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB1 2AW

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provision is implemented

Boarding provision outcome The school is likely to meet the relevant

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7 to 7b  An appropriate and up-to-date safeguarding policy is on the school’s website.  There is a safe culture in the school. Leaders and staff get the safeguarding training they should. This is regular and supports staff well in spotting and reporting concerns. For instance, staff conscientiously self-refer if they have any nagging questions about their conduct.  Leaders liaise with agencies to make sure the right actions are in place to keep students safe. For example, mental health support is put in place for vulnerable students who need it. When the school does not get the help it should, it is tenacious at continuing to seek this. Governors regularly review incidents. Sometimes the recording of safeguarding information, including during incidents, is not as thorough as it could be. The school and proprietor body recognise this and have plans to

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Main inspection findings

address it.  There is an appropriate programme to teach students about risk. This is relevant to the needs of international students, such as teaching them about British values.  The requirements of this independent school standard (the standards) are likely to be met if the material change is approved. Paragraphs 11, 12 and 16  There is a suitable health and safety policy. This is used diligently and appropriately to ensure needed safeguards are in place. The sites are old buildings. Therefore, the school makes systematic checks on aspects such as legionella’s, asbestos and gas safety. Staff get ongoing training in health and safety. The impact of this is logged and reviewed. As a result, the sites are safe places for students.  The processes for fire safety for the school sites are robust. The school has the required certification to demonstrate that consistent fire safety checks are carried out

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Main inspection findings

by the relevant authority. The designated leaders and marshals are published around the site. The fire risk assessment is used well to ensure any needed amendments are put in place speedily.  The school assesses risks effectively. For instance, where any science resources might be harmful, staff use detailed risk assessments. Risk assessments for trips are thorough. There is a common-sense and appropriate approach to considering the risks of local area visits.  These standards are likely to be met if the material change is approved. Paragraph 14  Staffing ratios are suitable for this age group. This will be the case if the material change is accepted. There is a high focus on staff career and professional development. Teachers get relevant training to support the international cohort. For example, the school is working with a Cambridge University College to develop approaches for oracy.  This standard is likely to be met if the material change is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 17 to 21(8)  The school makes the required vetting checks before a member of staff is employed. The proprietor ensures that the school’s procedures are followed appropriately. For example, this includes leadership checks at all levels, including governors.  The single central record of pre-employment checks is thorough and well managed.  This standard is likely to be met if the material change is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 22 to 31(c)  The sites are both pleasant places to learn. The classrooms are bright and airy. They contain what they need for academic purposes. For example, science laboratories are well resourced for practical work. The learning environment has appropriate lighting and acoustics. There are more than enough learning spaces for the proposed material change.  The site is well maintained. Toilets are clean, and drinking- and non-drinking-water are marked and available. The medical provision on both sites is ample. There is outdoor space for students on both sites. This is a little cramped in the Regent Street site, but this is compensated for by a large student common room.  This standard is likely to be met if the material change is approved. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  There is a clear and sensible rationale for the material change. The school is

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Main inspection findings

ambitious to grow. However, it is managing growth in a measured way. Current provision is successful. The school was judged good in May 2023. The proprietor body provides knowledge, sharing of expertise and training. For example, the parent college in Cardiff gives a lot of leadership support. This ensures improvement and high outcomes are sustained.  The proprietor body checks rigorously on the provision. This is both in terms of compliance and academic quality. Governors ensure they receive regular and wide- ranging information about the school. This leads to appropriate support and challenge.  Leaders and the proprietor ensure that the standards are met consistently. This has been the case in all inspections since the school opened.  This standard is likely to be met if the material change is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Boarding provision The national minimum standards that were assessed during this inspection National minimum standards 4 to 9, 19 to 20  The full social care inspection completed 27 February 2023 to 1 March 2023 found the boarding school to be good in each area.  The accommodation is suitable, with a total of 104 rooms available to boarders across three separate boarding blocks.  The boarding accommodation has the potential to meet boarders’ needs. Each room is ensuite. Boarders will have the facilities to store their possessions securely. Prior to the accommodation being ‘taken over’ by the provider, the provider has confirmed a deep clean will take place. Boarders have access to laundry facilities, facilities to cook and drinking-water. The accommodation is secure, accessed through a locked gate and via fobs. No staff live on site. This is a change since the last visit. Staff instead ‘sleep in’ in

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Main inspection findings

a designated separate and secure room when they are on shift.  The boarding accommodation appeared free of hazards. Cleaners will clean the blocks regularly. Staff will monitor the cleanliness and safety.  Arrangements for boarders’ health and well-being appear sufficient. Since the last material change visit the nursing capacity has increased and a well-being counsellor has been appointed. Each child has their own private room which would enable them to isolate as necessary. An additional medical room is also available.  Fire safety is overseen by the organisation managing the boarding site. Leaders and managers would benefit from greater oversight of this to challenge the pace of some actions on the fire risk assessment. The provider has ensured that regular fire drills take place, including one after 10pm. Seven of nine boarding staff have had fire marshal training. All boarding staff have had a fire induction. Proposals outlined appear

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Main inspection findings

likely to ensure health and safety standards are met.  The boarding accommodation block has a separate kitchen facility. This has two fridges, a cooker and a microwave. This will enable students to prepare their own meals.  The head of boarding is the designated safeguarding lead (DSL). He has the requisite training and is supported by two deputy DSLs. The provider has a plan to introduce two further deputy designated safeguarding leads.  Records relating to safeguarding concerns are not always sufficiently clear. During this inspection, the quality of some records needed some additional clarifications. Although these clarifications provided the necessary assurance, the records should be clearer and more comprehensive.  Leaders and managers can explain their response to children who have gone missing. This has included contacting the police.  Overall, the process for recruitment records appears sufficient. The college

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Main inspection findings

administrator had a good understanding of this and what is expected to be in place.  Management capacity has increased since the last visit, with the boarding lead becoming a full-time role.  There are no volunteers. The number of staff appears sufficient. The number of staff house parents will be increasing from six to eight. This will allow greater flexibility. There will always be a member of staff on shift overnight in each housing block. Staffing arrangements will be clearly detailed on the rota.

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standards for boarding schools

The school is likely to meet the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’), the national minimum standards for boarding schools and associated requirements that are relevant to the material change.

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School details

Social care unique reference number 2689127

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make. The inspection of boarding provision was carried out under the Children Act 1989, as amended by the Care Standards Act 2000, having regard to the national minimum standards for boarding schools.

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School details

School status Independent boarding school

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School details

Annual fees (boarders) £53,800 to £58,000

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 1618 May 2023

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 14 to 19 14 to 19 14 to 19

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 74 (80 capacity) 110 110

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 0 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of boarders on roll 74 (80 capacity) 104

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 2 2

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 0 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with an education, health and care plan 0 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 10 13

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 9 12

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Information about this school

 The school was registered on 30 June 2022. The proprietor body is Dukes Education Limited. There is a local governing body. The proprietor operates a similar provision at another school in Cardiff.  The school caters for international pupils from 14 to 19 years of age. Admissions are selective.  At present, all students are in Years 12 and 13. The school has plans in the future to admit pupils for GCSEs.  Students currently study A Levels related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.  The school does not use alternative provision.  There is a second site at 5 Glisson Road, Cambridge, CB1 2HA.  Students are boarders. They are housed in the separate boarding accommodation. This is located within walking distance of the school. The school plans to admit a small number of day students.  Inspection history: – Ofsted conducted a pre-registration inspection of the school in May 2022. – The school received its first full standard inspection in May 2023. The inspection

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Information about this school

judged that the school’s overall effectiveness was good. The school met the standards. – The school received a material change inspection in July 2023. At this, the school initially requested an increase to 110 pupils. An increase to 80 was recommended by inspectors and accepted by the Department for Education (DfE). The school was judged likely to meet the standards.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the DfE to consider the school’s request for a material change. The proprietor body requested to increase the number on roll from 80 to 110, of which 104 will be boarders.  This was an integrated inspection. This means there was a school inspector and also a social care inspector who evaluated the potential boarding provision. The purpose of the inspection was to establish whether the school is likely to meet the relevant standards and national minimum boarding standards if the registration authority were to grant the requested material change.  Inspectors met with the headteacher, the directors of education and compliance from the proprietor body and other school leaders.  Inspectors scrutinised information and policies published on the school website. They reviewed a range of additional documentation, including the school’s improvement plan and minutes of governors’ meetings.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspectors reviewed the school’s arrangements for safeguarding pupils and staff. Inspectors looked at the school’s single central record of the recruitment checks.  The school inspector visited both sites where teaching happens. The social care inspector visited the potential boarding provision.

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Inspection team

Charlie Fordham, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Ashley Hinson Social Care Regulatory Inspector guidance ‘Raising concerns and making a complaint about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/complaints-about-ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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